Pensioners 1-mile walk to empty bin

June 05, 2008

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A FRAIL Lancashire pensioner is being forced to make a one-mile round trip just to get her bins emptied, it has been reported.

June Kay has to carry her rubbish down a steep hill because the council has ordered its bin lorries to stop driving to her house.

Mrs Kay, 79, from Bolton by Bowland, told the Daily Mail: "I am simply unable to do it. I am too old. I can't carry rubbish down the lane.

"I can just about manage to walk there and back, but that's only on fine days and without me carrying anything.

"I don't know how I am supposed to manage."

Her neighbour Harry Johnston is also unhappy with the changes. He has reportedly been told he has to share communal bins with a family living two miles away.

Mr Johnston told the newspaper: "I rang the council to explain that it was impossible."

He added: "In the winter, when it is frosty, it is particularly dangerous, and, not only that, there are sometimes 30 cows to negotiate. Then we have to get the bins over a cattle grid."

Ribble Valley Council deputy leader Richard Sherras said: "We gradually introduced the new scheme. There are a few teething problems.

"Some people find it a bit more difficult than when the bin was collected at the back of the house, because they were just ordinary dustbins with sacks.

"Because of recycling, we have a three-bin system now, and the lorries are much bigger. We have got to recycle, and I am afraid it causes some inconveniences. We are trying to do it the best we can."

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Guten Tag (05/06/2008 at 15:26)

Ha, typical council. Do without thinking.

Anne Wilson (05/06/2008 at 15:27)

these councils should tell their employees to get out and do the walk to where the bins are placed near the house - that's called a rubbish collection service to the public. otherwise the members of the public should refuse to pay council tax for its rubbish collection.

suge, mancs (05/06/2008 at 16:02)

"Because of recycling, we have a three-bin system now, and the lorries are much bigger. We have got to recycle, and I am afraid it causes some inconveniences. We are trying to do it the best we can." the recycling is now a waste of time too i used to to it but every couple ofweeks there were more items i could not put in to recycle its now just ridiculous and pointless, i ahve stopped by the way. I did try though

jomov, Manchester (05/06/2008 at 16:54)

The amount of council tax we have to pay and for what?

Its about time the council provided everyone with the service we are paying for.

Its ridiculous!

DOOBYDO (05/06/2008 at 18:11)

This situation would be fine if we had the same system as in parts of Souther Ireland. Over there you pay for refuse collection and the amount that is collected (don't know how they work it out). If you don't pay for collection and take your own refuse to the tip then you don't pay, simple! Obviously this lady is unable to make the journey and therefore I would advise her to contact her local councillor, M.P. and Social Services so that between them THEY can sort out the problem and not her. I would also suggest that she request a refund on her Council Tax.

antipsari (05/06/2008 at 19:48)

Ace get your birch out and teach this lazy old sod how to be a good bin user.

alvinlwh (05/06/2008 at 22:42)

She should recycle more. Then she wouldn't need to make the mile long trip. As some people had suggested, most of the stuff we throw away can be recycled. There is no need to send anything to the landfill (or so they claimed). Maybe this old lady should move somewhere where there is a doorstep refuse collection service? Just the same way drivers should move closer to work. It doesn't matter if they can't afford to move (both drivers and this old lady).

Mike S, Manchester (06/06/2008 at 13:40)

I like Mr Johnston's comment: "...not only that, there are sometimes 30 cows to negotiate."

How do you negotiate with cows?

However, the old lady should make the most of this. If she really is frail, then she should get home help and get them to put the rubbish out for her. It would cost the council even more!

Marc (06/06/2008 at 13:42)

"How do you negotiate with cows?"

Dairylea?

only nickname left (06/06/2008 at 13:56)

Take it the council have already prepared and sent her a check for some of her council tax back as she is not recieving a full service. Sorry what am I saying this goverment, refund, not a chance unless you spend countless hours collecting and filling in lots of pointless forms and waiting months.

vera angry (07/06/2008 at 17:16)

alvinlwh, "She should recycle more. Then she wouldn't need to make the mile long trip. As some people had suggested, most of the stuff we throw away can be recycled." And where will she put her recycled items?...in a bin perhaps, the same type she has to drag a mile, what does that solve but the councils problems!!. It is unlikely I shall be around to see your moans and groans of old age, but I only hope you have very, very many, all falling on insensitive deaf ears such as yours, it would surely be justice from above.
Given your selfish, uncaring attitude, I doubt very much you would not complain loudly if you were in this lady's position.
As for moving, well you must find moving easy, I just hope you never blight my neighborhood with your presence.

JimC (08/06/2008 at 10:48)

To all you posters who are having a go at this old dear, lets hope it is not your mother who gets treated this way, shame on you, heartless sods.

JimC (08/06/2008 at 10:49)

As for the cows, just ask them nicely to mooove on.

Rugbygirl, Urmston (08/06/2008 at 20:57)

he residents are paying for a service - the council are the ones in the wrong by saying they cannot do it! Imagine if all manufacturing and private services went the same way? not a penny in profit would be made. The local councillor should make it his business to go and apologise to these people and sort something out! As for saying the old lady should move or recycle more - well shame on you. I just hope when you get frail people treat you with the same distain you have shown this old lady!

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